Project no buck 72

[Rob H.]

I figured it's finally time to start a build thread, some of you have seen my truck. It started out cheap and has stayed that way so far. Here's a few of the early pics. The first is when I stopped to look at it the first time at my buddy's shop. I'll add more as time allows.

After I got it home and cleaned up and the old cap off of it.

The seat was a bit ragged when I got it!

[jmsaunders]

What are your plans for the truck? I'm looking forward to watching your build and getting ideas for mine

[Tinkermc]

keep the reports and pics comming

[Rob H.]

Actually I've had the truck for about 2 years and have made some changes and am again making more changes. I just now finally got around to a build thread LOL. To give a little more back ground on how it all started with this truck, I'll tell the whole story. I used to drive a rollback for a towing company and came across a fairly solid (for this area) 67 LWB big back window truck. Unfortuneately it had no title but I only gave $550 for it. It came with a 327 and TH400. About a year and a half later, I got a call from my old boss at the wrecker company that he had a 72 with a good title and only $400. I went and looked and about a week later he delivered it to me. I then set out to build two trucks, yes I know very ambitious for a guy working two jobs and going to school. Needless to say, the 67 got sidelined and I started slowly working on the 72 and dealing with all the hassles life can throw at you. It was April 2010 when I got the 72 and in May and then again later in July we were flooded. The July flood got my mobile home and my 96 'burb I'd just rebuilt the motor in, it also got in the 72. I knew the old 307 was tired in it anyway, but I got it flushed out and running and put the truck to work cleaning up around the place and scrapping out some of my junkers to bring in some more income.

The gas tank and sending unit were a rusted mess in side.

So I had to use this setup until I could find another tank!

[Rob H.]

I found this 70 'burb on CL for $250 and hauled it in for a parts truck a few days after I aquired the 72. It had been a 402 4 speed and had a deluxe bench. I've definately got my money's worth out of it!

I wish it had still had the 402!

[Rob H.]

Ok, here's the seat from the burb installed in my 72 and also a couple pics of installing the 4 speed from the burb in it.


This is the only pic of the completed 4 speed swap I have, I was on my way to do a rekey job.

[Rob H.]

I had swapped a 69 GMC front clip on because it was in better condition than the 72 Chevy clip and it had good headlights! I also added the wheels I picked up in a swap. This how it looked up to about a couple weeks ago.

[Rob H.]

I enjoyed driving the truck from around the end of Febuary till I blew the 307 up around the first of July. I finally came to the firm decision to cannabalize the the 67 and build the 72 into the truck I wanted it to be. I'm going to pull the 327 from the 67 and I am also going to use the front clip from it (love the 67-68 slant!) and the bed.

This 327 only has 89,000 on it and runs strong! Just have to put in new gaskets and seals and freshen up the paint and carb!

[Rob H.]

Last week I pulled the front clip and engine from my 72. I got started cleaning the frame up so I could paint it before I put the 327 in. I found a leaking brake line so I replaced it and went ahead and replaced the hardline to the passenger side with a new one, so now all the brake lines are new. I also decided it was time to add power steering to it so I pulled the steering box off the 70 'burb and bolted it on. I still plan to change to the column from the 'burb and then I'll be rid of the 3 speed linkage and it will look as it should with the 4 speed.

I got some painting done on the frame, I've been using Rustoleum gloss black engine paint on the frame.

[Rob H.]

I got the pics from yesterday downloaded onto my computer from my phone so here is where I'm at today. Driver's side rocker in, I still have to replace the floor and inner and outer cab corner and cab supports, but atleast I have my door back on and it kept the rain out last night! Here's the rusted out rocker I removed and a couple pics with the new one welded in.

[jmsaunders]

Good job on the rocker panel and that seat looks AWESOME in there. Don't take it personal but I'm just a bit jealous and love the look of it and the design in the upholstery.

[Rob H.]

For a 42 year old seat, you wouldn't believe how nice it sits, I've drove the truck about 250 miles non stop and I get out feeling great, it's more comfortable than the seat in my 98 Tahoe too me! I also take your jealousy as a compliment!

[Rob H.]

Here's an update from yesterday, I got the passenger side rocker in. It would have been a fitting post for the parts that don't work thread! I also bolted the 67 doors on it, as when it goes back together only the cab shell and frame will be from the 72. I can't afford to paint it yet so it will have the nice patina'd look of my 67 when I'm done for now. Here are a few pics of the progress.



As you can see I still need to redo the lower door skins but that's a project for another day, along with new cab corners and cab supports when money allows, hence the "no buck" in my thread title. Also here's a shot of my replacement floor metal and small parts fabrication metal!

[Rob H.]

I finally got back to working on the truck last night and got the rust hole patched in the passenger floor board. Next project is the driver's floor board and it is much worse! I wish I had better researched what patch panels were available before I started, but at least there won't be any rust in it when I'm done. I'm not planning on ever selling it, and I'm going to use it for my daily driver and work truck so it suits me and my needs. I do wish I had been able to buy a better mig, but the little Harbor frieght flux core does atleast stick metal together, just not as pretty as the Lincoln I'm used too!

[tsali39]

Originally Posted by Rob H.

Actually I've had the truck for about 2 years and have made some changes and am again making more changes. I just now finally got around to a build thread LOL. To give a little more back ground on how it all started with this truck, I'll tell the whole story. I used to drive a rollback for a towing company and came across a fairly solid (for this area) 67 LWB big back window truck. Unfortuneately it had no title but I only gave $550 for it. It came with a 327 and TH400. About a year and a half later, I got a call from my old boss at the wrecker company that he had a 72 with a good title and only $400. I went and looked and about a week later he delivered it to me. I then set out to build two trucks, yes I know very ambitious for a guy working two jobs and going to school. Needless to say, the 67 got sidelined and I started slowly working on the 72 and dealing with all the hassles life can throw at you. It was April 2010 when I got the 72 and in May and then again later in July we were flooded. The July flood got my mobile home and my 96 'burb I'd just rebuilt the motor in, it also got in the 72. I knew the old 307 was tired in it anyway, but I got it flushed out and running and put the truck to work cleaning up around the place and scrapping out some of my junkers to bring in some more income.

The gas tank and sending unit were a rusted mess in side.

So I had to use this setup until I could find another tank!

WOW! I thought mine looked bad!

[Rob H.]

It had sat for 10 years with about half a tank of gas in it, there were pin holes rusted along the tank where the top of the gas was. I'm sure you can imagine how bad it smelled in my cab!

[Tinkermc]

work is lookin good keep the work and pics comming

[VA72C10]

real nice progress!!!

[Rob H.]

Thanks guys, haven't got anything else done this weekend, we've had some company in from your area so we've been entertaining. I'm planning on getting on the drivers floor board this week and also one rust spot on the firewall. I need to pull the 327 from my 67 donor truck and get started cleaning it up.

[Rob H.]

I finally got back to it this morning after my bus route. Here's the update pics.
Yabadabado!!!

When you don't have a metal break, you improvise!

[VA72C10]

nice work on the patch!

[gdavis]

It looks like you got your hands full. Butend results is what we are after. I too am working on my rocker. I got new out side one but can't find inner rockers. So I guess I will build them myself.

[Rob H.]

I got mine from Southern Kentucky Classics.

[CrazyDave]

Looking good Rob you have come a long way

[Rob H.]

Thanks David, I blew the old 307 up about 3 days after I saw you at the cruise in at Pop's, that's when I started tearing it all down. Going slow getting it back together.